Kyrgios topples idol Tsonga in electric clash

Kyrgios needed three tiebreakers to win a crunch match with the former finalist Tsonga. Photo: Lukas Coch/BackpagePix

MELBOURNE – Australia's Nick Kyrgios won an electric four-setter with his idol Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to advance to the round of 16 at the Australian Open on Friday.

The 17th seeded Kyrgios needed three tiebreakers to win a crunch match with the former finalist 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/5) in 3hr 17min in a spectacular night match on Rod Laver Arena.

It pitches the volatile Australian into a round of 16 showdown with Bulgaria's world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday.

Kyrgios, urged on by his home crowd, traded breathtaking volleys with Tsonga, who lost to Novak Djokovic in the 2008 Australian final when Kyrgios was a 12-year-old fan.

“It was amazing. I've never won a match on this court before but playing Jo I was obviously very nervous,” Kyrgios said on court. “He was a guy I looked up to as a kid, still do, he's a great guy. I'm just so happy to get through. I was getting prepared for a fifth set in that (fourth set) tiebreaker.

“I thought he was going to hit two big first serves and I was in a lot of trouble but I stayed composed, tied to make some returns and fight it out.”

The match had some drama just after the third set when an incensed Tsonga yelled at the chair umpire in French about a vocal member of the crowd.

Tsonga was heard to say “bring him here, he needs to come down here”.

He said it three times before the umpire warned the French star, telling him: “You have to stop, you have to stop. Nothing good can come from it. You have to stop.”

Tsonga was then issued with a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Nick Kyrgios won an electric four-setter with his idol Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melborne. Photo: Mark Cristino/BackpagePix

Kyrgios won his first home ATP Tour title at the lead-up Brisbane International -- beating Dimitrov along the way -- and is looking to go further than a quarter-final appearance in Melbourne three years ago.